Follower-plate for draft-gears of cars.



Patented Sept. 3, |901.

Aliorney J. TlmMs.

FOLLUWER PLATE FOR DRAFT-GEARS 0F GARS.

(Applisation led July 26, 1901.)

WITNESSES No. estesa.

(No Model.)

Unrrnn STATES FATENT Ormea.,

JAMES TIMMS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUVOKEYE MALLEABLE IRON AND OOUPLER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.V

FOLLOWER-PLATE FOR DRAFT-SEARS OF CARS.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,896, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed July 26, 1901` Serial No. 69,826. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LJAMEs TIMMs, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Follower I lates for the Draft-Gears of Cars g and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,V clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains 1o to make and use the same.

lMy invention relates to an improvement in follower-plates for the draft-gears of cars.

In car construction the draft-gear is coniined within the limited space between the I5 drafttimbers. Hence there is not room for the employment of an unlimited number of springs. Again, the springs employed must be so arranged and relatively proportioned as to permit of the necessary movement of the zo follower-plates. There are several types of draft-gears, but one of the most popular and effective types comprises a main helical spring of standard size having a smaller helical spring of the same length therein,

two sets of said springs being arranged in tandem between two pairs of followers. At-

tempts have been made to increase the spring capacity by adding more springs at the sides of the main standard springs; but in all cases auxiliary springs of the same length as the main standard springs have been employed, and as spring capacity is dependent upon length and diameter of bar from which the spring is made the capacity of the added 3 5 springs has thus been limited by the length of the main spring and a diameter of bar that will permit of equal compression with the main spring, as all must be actuated by and between the same followers.

4o The object of my invention is to materially increase the spring capacity of draft-gears of the class above described without limiting or restricting the movement of the followerplates; and it consists in the details of construction as will be more fully described, and

pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a draw-bar and draft-gear embodying my invention. Fig. 2

5o is a view in plan of one of the followers; and

` embraces the follower-plates O.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on line a: of Fig. 2, showing two followers and their springs.

A represents the draw-head, provided with a rearwardly-extending yoke B, which latter These follower-plates C are mounted in the draft-timbers in the usual manner, and in the present instance I have shown two sets of the springs arranged tandem, one set being between each pair of followers. Each follower-plate is pro- 6o vided with a seat a for the large spring D, which latter is of the Master Oar-Builders standard size and has a free compressive movement of from one and three-fourths to two inches. This spring D rests at its ends against the face of the follower, while the inner springs E rest within recessed seats b, formed in the face of the follower. These inner springs to be of any material assistance to the main spring and at the same time per- 7o mit of the necessary movementof the fol lower must be made of certain -sized barsteel and the coils brought closer together than the coils of the main spring. Hence if the two springs are of the same length it will 7 5 be seen that if the main spring is capable of two inches compression the coils of the inner springs will come together before the limit has been reached, thus limiting the movement of the followers. By recessing the followers, as 8o above described, I secure an increase in the length of the narrower spring, and thus provide for the additional compression necessary for the standard or full movement of the followers. To further increase the spring capacity of the gear, I provide each followerplate with a recessed seat d at the corners thereof, thus utilizing space which would otherwise be lost. These seats d are deeper than the seat b and receive the springs F, 9o which being of less diameter than the inner springs E and made from smaller bar-steel their coils must, in order for the springs to be effective, be closer together than the coils of the innersprings E. Bymakingthe recesses or seats d deeper than the recesses b I provide space for longer springs, which have a compressive capacity equal to that of the larger springs. By thus relatively proportioning the springs as to size I provide a set of springs Ico tion with followers having the auxiliarysprings seats in planes farther separated than z the main-spring seats,the said springs being of normally dierent lengths, but all having the same, and a limited movement in compression.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speeieation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES TIMMS.

Vitnesses:

GEO. F. DOWNING, W. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

